Follow the Boys 1944  N/R, 122 min.
Genre: Comedy / Musical / Drama
Director: A. Edward Sutherland
Cast: George Raft, Vera Zorina, Charley Grapewin, Jeanette MacDonald, Regis Toomey, Orson Welles, Marlene Dietrich, W.C. Fields, Gale Sondergaard, Grace McDonald, Charles Butterworth, Ramsay Ames, Elizabeth Patterson, George Macready, Theodore von Eltz
This is Universal Studio's all-star effort to help morale in America during World War II. The story involves a brother-sister-father (George Raft, Jeanette MacDonald, and Charley Grapewin) vaudeville act that moves to Hollywood where Tony (Raft) gains stardom with Gloria Vance (Vera Zorina). When World War II erupts, Tony, whose bad knee keeps him out of the service, organizes an all-star tour to entertain the troops. Dozens of stars are featured in the show, which features songs, dances and comedy skits.
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The Goldwyn Follies 1938  N/R, 120 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: George Marshall
Cast: Adolphe Menjou, Al Ritz, Harry Ritz, Jimmy Ritz, Vera Zorina, Kenny Baker, Andrea Leeds, Bobby(2) Clark, Edgar Bergen, Alan Ladd, Jerome Cowan, Phil Baker, Ella Logan, Nydia Westman
While this film about producer Oliver Merlin (Adolphe Menjou) (who worries about his next show) is lacking in high marks for entertainment value, George Gershwin (who died during the filming) and his brother Ira contributed two great songs: "Love Walked In" and "Our Love is Here to Stay."
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I Was an Adventuress 1940  N/R, 81 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Gregory Ratoff
Cast: Vera Zorina, Richard Greene, Erich von Stroheim, Peter Lorre, Sig Ruman, Fritz Feld, Cora Witherspoon, Anthony Kemble-Cooper, Paul Porcasi, Roger Imhof
Tanya (Vera Zorina) is a member of a team of con-artists/jewel thieves. She decides to go straight after she meets the love of her life (Richard Greene), though he thinks she is a countess. The other two team members (Erich von Stroheim and Peter Lorre) don't like that and decide to interfere. Stroheim and Lorre are a great pair.
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Louisiana Purchase 1941 N/R, 98 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Irving Cummings
Cast: Bob Hope, Vera Zorina, Victor Moore, Irene Bordoni, Dona Drake, Max "Slapsie Maxie" Rosenbloom, Frank Albertson, Raymond Walburn, Donald MacBride, Andrew Tombes
Both Irving Berlin's music and Senator Jim Taylor's (Bob Hope) outrageous filibuster in which he reads "Gone with the Wind" contribute to making this film an enjoyable escape from reality.
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On Your Toes 1939 N/R, 93 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Ray Enright
Cast: Vera Zorina, Eddie Albert, Alan Hale, Frank McHugh, James Gleason, Donald O'Connor, Leonid Kinskey, Queenie Smith, Berton Churchill, Irving Bacon
Although this film is loosely based on the Rogers and Hart musical, not much of the original Broadway show remains. Phil Dolan Jr. (Eddie Albert) is a composer who endures a long romance with ballerina Vera (Vera Zorina).
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| 1. Follow the Boys (1944)
2. The Goldwyn Follies (1938)
3. I Was an Adventuress (1940)
4. Louisiana Purchase (1941)
5. On Your Toes (1939)
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